BILL REQ. #:  H-1508.1 

Read first time 02/09/2007.   Referred to Committee on State Government & Tribal Affairs.

     AN ACT Relating to election day voter registration; amending RCW 29A.08.140; and adding a new section to chapter 29A.08 RCW.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   A new section is added to chapter 29A.08 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) A qualified elector in the state who is not registered to vote is allowed to vote at the polls in a primary, special, or general election if the person registers at the polls under this section.
     (2) In order to register to vote at a precinct under this section, the person must:
     (a) Be a resident of the precinct;
     (b) Be otherwise legally qualified to vote under this title;
     (c) Not have previously registered to vote under this title; and
     (d) Not have already voted in the election.
     (3) Before being allowed to vote, the precinct election officer shall require the person to do the following:
     (a) Complete a voter registration form as provided in this chapter;
     (b) Sign an oath described in subsection (5) of this section;
     (c) Provide proof of residence under rules established by the secretary of state;
     (d) Provide proof of identification under rules established by the secretary of state, which shall include, but not be limited to (i) a Washington state driver's license, (ii) a Washington state identification card, (iii) an official identification card issued by the United States, (iv) a company identification card, (v) a student identification card from a higher education institution, (vi) a credit card, (vii) a library card, (viii) a real estate tax bill or receipt, (ix) a residential lease, (x) a current utility bill that shows the name and address of the registrant, or (xi) military discharge papers.
     (4) A person who is unable to present the documentation required under subsection (3)(c) or (d) of this section shall be issued a provisional ballot.
     (5) The secretary of state shall prescribe an oath required by subsection (3)(b) of this section. The oath must include a statement that the person has not already voted at the election for which the person is registering to vote.
     (6) A person who registers to vote under this section may not be challenged on the grounds that the person's registration does not appear in an official list of eligible voters.
     (7) The county auditor or registration assistant shall register a person registering to vote under this section in the manner provided in this chapter.
     (8) If a voter registration application submitted pursuant to this section is incomplete under this section or RCW 29A.08.110, or cannot be matched by the secretary of state pursuant to RCW 29A.08.107, and the deficiency or discrepancy has not been resolved prior to certification of the election, the ballot submitted by the applicant shall not be counted.

Sec. 2   RCW 29A.08.140 and 2006 c 97 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:
     The registration files of all precincts shall be closed against transfers for thirty days immediately preceding every primary, special election, and general election to be held in such precincts.
     The county auditor shall give notice of the closing of the precinct files for transfer and notice of the special registration and voting procedures provided by RCW 29A.08.145 and section 1 of this act by one publication in a newspaper of general circulation in the county at least five days before the closing of the precinct files.
     No person may vote at any primary, special election, or general election in a precinct polling place unless he or she has registered to vote at least thirty days before that primary or election and appears on the official statewide voter registration list or has registered to vote under section 1 of this act. If a person, otherwise qualified to vote in the state, county, and precinct in which he or she applies for registration, does not register at least thirty days before any primary, special election, or general election, he or she may register and vote by absentee ballot for that primary or election under RCW 29A.08.145 or may register and vote on the day of the election under section 1 of this act.